Sonic de-linting of seeds or the like from fibrous host material

ABSTRACT

High level sonic energy is applied to a contained liquid by means of an orbiting mass oscillator and resonant coupling. Fibrous material having seeds or the like embedded therein, such as cotton, is introduced into the liquid and subjected to vigorous mechanical vibration, which, because of the different acoustic properties of the fibers and seeds, causes the fibers to detach and separate from the seeds at their point of attachment.

United States Patent 1 1 Bodine 51 Jan. 16, 1973 1541 SONIC DE-LINTING OF SEEDS OR THE LIKE FROM FIBROUS HOST MATERIAL [76] Inventor: Albert G. Bodine, 7877 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Calif. 91406 [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 885,890

[521 US. Cl. ..209/1, 209/3, 19/39 [51] Int. Cl. ..Bl0j 1/12 [58] Field of Search ..l9/39; 209/1, 2, 3; 259/1 R,

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,896,922 7/1959 Pohlman ..209/l X Bodinc ......20 9/l Davis ..2()9/172.5

Primary Examiner-Frank Lutter Assistant ExaminerRalph .1. Hill Attorney-Sokolski & Wohlgemuth 571 ABSTRACT High level sonic energy is applied to a contained liquid by means of an orbiting mass oscillator and resonant coupling. Fibrous material having seeds or the like embedded therein, such as cotton, is introduced into the liquid and subjected to vigorous mechanical vibration, which, because of the different acoustic properties of the fibers and seeds, causes the fibers to detach and separate from the seeds at their point of attachment. I

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 16 ms SHEET 1 BF 2 mm hm I, Ft

INVENTOR ALBERT G. BODINE SOKZLSKI 8 WOHLGEM UTH ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN 16 I975 SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR ALBERT 6. B00! NE SOKOLSKI Bu WOFLGEMUTH ATTOR NEYS SONIC DE-LINTING OF SEEDS OR THE LIKE FROM FIBROUS HOST MATERIAL This invention relates to a method and devices utilizing high energy sonic vibrations for separating attached fibers from pellet-like members such as seeds embedded therein, and more particularly to such a method and devices in which an orbiting mass oscillator is utilized to transmit elastic vibrations to a contained liquid in which the fibrous material is immersed.

In certain operations such as cotton processing, it is necessary to detach and separate the attached fibers from the seeds. When raw cotton is brought from the field, the fibers are firmly attached to the seeds. In order to obtain maximum utility from the cotton plant, the fibers extracted therefrom should be of maximum length and cleanliness, and the seeds should be unbroken and free of attached lint. In prior systems, such as cotton ginning, raw cotton is passed between rotating saw-like discs, which tear the fibers from the seed. If an attempt is made to sever the fibers too close to the seed, the fiber length is reduced and the risk is increased that the seed will be damaged, thereby reducing its utility for planting, and contaminating the fibers with cottonseed oil. The result is an incomplete extraction of fibers from the seed, which produces a smaller yield of cotton and necessitates subjecting the seeds to an additional delinting process to prepare the seed for planting.

The technique and apparatus of this invention overcome the aforementioned shortcomings by providing means for immersing the raw cotton in a container of liquid, typically water, to which highlevel sonic energy is applied, so that vibratory energy is vigorously delivered to the interface where the cotton fibers are attached to the seed. Since the cotton fibers and seeds have different acoustical properties, namely, density, damping factor and stiffness, they vibrate out-of-phase and with a substantially different amplitude. Additionally, the velocity of sound in the fiber is quite different from that in the seed, with the result that there is a strong acoustic reflection at the point where the fiber is attached to the seed. The point of attachment is therefore a discontinuity of acoustical impedance; with the result that relatively high stresses are generated at the attachment point. The stress breaks the fiber at its root and causes it to detach from the seed.

The sonic energy input to the water must engender elastic compressional cycles therein and be of sufficient magnitude to create stresses which exceed the elastic limit of the fibers. An orbiting mass oscillator is utilized in all embodiments because of its ability to remain locked into resonance in spite of changes in the load impedance. Thus, maximum vibratory energy is delivered to the water even though the system impedance changes, as the cotton fibers become detached from the seeds. In certain embodiments of the device of the device of the invention, an elastomeric resonator such as described in my application Ser. No. 829,488, is utilized to obtain extremely high energy levels and vibratory amplitudes. in other embodiments, where smaller amplitudes are required, the energy may be delivered directly from the oscillator to the water through an elastomeric diaphragm, without using a resonator.

An additional advantage inherent in each of the embodiments of the device of the invention is the cleaning action benefitting from the sonic energy transmitted to the seeds and fibers.

Thus, the technique and apparatus of this invention enables the attainment of a combined process of detaching, delinting, separating and cleaning without damaging either fibers or seeds, and providing maximum fiber length and quality.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an improved technique and apparatus for separating fibrous material from attached pellet-like objects embedded therein.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic drawing illustrating the general features of the technique of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing an elastomeric diaphragm; and

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view of an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing an elastomeric resonator.

It has been found most helpful in analyzing this invention to analogize the acoustically vibrating circuit utilized to an equivalent electrical circuit. This sort of approach to analysis is well known to those skilled in the art and is described, for example, in Chapter 2 of- Sonics by Hueter and Bolt, published in 1955 by John Wiley and Sons. In making such an analogy, force F is equated with electrical voltage E, velocity of vibration u is equated with electrical current i, mechanical compliance C,, is equated with electrical capacitance C,., mass M is equated with electrical inductance L, mechanical resistance (friction) R,, is equated with electrical resistance R and mechanical impedance Z is equated with electrical impedance Z,..

Thus, it can be shown that if a member is elastically vibrated by means of an acoustical sinusoidal force F0 sin wt (to being equal to 211' times the frequency of vibration), that Where wM is equal to l/wC a resonant condition exists, and the effective mechanical impedance 2,, is equal to the mechanical resistance R,,,, the reactive impedance components (0M and (l/wC cancelling each other out. Under such a resonant condition, velocity of vibration u is at a maximum, power factor is unity, and energy is more efficiently delivered to a load to which the resonantsystem may be coupled.

It is important to note the significance of the attainment of high acoustical 0" in the resonant system being driven, to increase the efficiency of the vibration thereof and to provide a maximum amount of power. As for an equivalent electrical circuit, the Q of an acoustically vibrating circuit is defined as the sharpness of resonance thereof and is indicative of the ratio of the energy stored in each vibration cycle to the energy used in each such cycle. Q is mathematically equated to the ratio between mM and R,,,. Thus, the effective 0 of the vibrating circuit can be maximized to make for highly efficient, high-amplitude vibration by minimizing the effect of friction in the circuit and/or maximizing the effect of mass in such circuit.

In considering the significance of the parameters described in connection with equation (1), it should be kept in mind that the total effective resistance, mass, and compliance in the acoustically vibrating circuit are represented in the equation and that these parameters may be distributed throughout the system rather than being lumped in any one component or portion thereof.

It is also to be noted that orbiting mass oscillators are utilized in the implementation of the invention that automatically adjust their output frequency and phase to maintain resonance with changes in the characteristics of the load. Thus, in the face of changes in the effective mass and compliance presented by the load with changes in the conditions of the work material as it is sonically excited, the system automatically is maintained in optimum resonant operation by virtue of the lock-in characteristic of applicants unique orbiting mass oscillators. Furthermore in this connection the orbiting mass oscillator automatically changes not only its frequency but its phase angle and therefore its power factor with changes in the resistive impedance load, to assure optimum efficiency of operation at all times. The vibrational output from such orbiting mass oscillators also tends to be constrained by the resonator to be generated along a controlled predetermined coherent path to provide maximum output along a desired axis.

Briefly described, this invention comprises a method and apparatus for sonic separation of pellet-like members from a fibrous host material. The material to be processed is immersed into a vessel containing water or another suitable liquid, and high level sonic energy is delivered to the liquid by means of an orbiting mass oscillator which may be coupled to the liquid by an elastomeric resonator. Elastic sonic vibrations are transmitted through the liquid to the material, causing the pellets and fibers to vibrate out of phase from one another and with different amplitudes. The resulting stress causes the pellets to separate from the fibers and migrate toward a region of the vessel, where they are caught by a conveyor and removed from the vessel. The fibrous material becomes suspended in the liquid which is pumped into a secondary vessel, where a similar conveyor device removes the fibers from the liquid. The liquid may then be filtered to remove any remaining fibers and recirculated back to the primary vessel.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing illustrating the general features of the invention is shown. There is seen a metal tank 13 open at the top, partially filled with a liquid 1 1, typically water, into which vibratory energy may be delivered by means of an orbiting mass oscillator 43 connected to an elastomeric coupling 12 which forms a part of the bottom of the tank as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Fibrous material having seeds or the like to be separated therefrom, such as raw cotton, 14 is introduced into the open top of tank 13 from a hopper 92 or other appropriate means. Sonic energy is imparted to the fibrous material 14 by the water 1 l, in which it is immersed, causing the material 14 vigorously. The orbiting mass oscillator is preferably driven at a frequency such as to cause resonant elastic vibration of the vibration system including the waterand the material therein. Because of the aforementioned difi'erences in mechanical and acoustic properties, the seeds and attached fibers of the material 14 to vibrate vibrate outof phase with one another and with a different amplitude. A sufficiently high stress is thereby generated at the point of attachment of the fiber to the seed, that the fiber is caused to sever at its root and become detached from the seed. Free seeds 16 then fall through the water 11 toward the bottom of the tank 13. Installed in tank 13 is conveyor 17 driven in a counter-clockwise direction by a motor (not shown). The conveyor 17 consists of a wide perforated belt 18 mounted on one roller 19 installed near the bottom of the tank 13, and another roller 20 mounted outside the tank 13, above the level of the water 11 therein. The free seeds 16 settle onto belt 18 and are removed from tank 13 to a drying apparatus, not shown. Any seeds which do not sink into the water may be skimmed from the surface and transported to belt 18 by a conventional surface skimmer, (not shown) Once detached from the seeds, free cotton fibers 15 become suspended in the water 11. The fibers 15 in suspension are removed from the tank 13 by means of a drain pipe 77 and pump 767 The suspension is pumped into a secondary tank 71, in which is installed conveyor 72, driven in a clockwise direction by a motor (not shown). Con veyor 72 consists ofa wide, porous belt 73 mounted on one roller 78submerged at the bottom of tank 71, and another roller 79 mounted outside tank 71 above the level of the water 11 therein. The cotton fibers in suspension 15 adhere to belt 73 and are removed from tank 71 to a drying apparatus (not'shown). When the water 1 1 in tank 71 reaches the level of the filter screen 74, which is of sufficient porosity to trap any free cotton fibers 15 still remaining in suspension, the water 11 flows through screen 74 and into return pipe 75, through which it returns to the primary tank 13.

Referring to FIG. 2 a first embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated. There is seen a portion of the bottom of the metal tank 13, in which has been provided a circular opening surrounded by a radial flange 27, which allows the tank to be secured to a stand 29 by bolts 32. An annular elastomeric diaphragm 12 is installed against flange 27 and held tightly thereto by retaining ring 34, serving to prevent leakage of liquid from tank 13. Fitted into the circular opening provided in the center of diaphragm l2 and secured tightly thereto by retaining ring 42 and bolts 44, is the housing 41 of orbiting mass oscillator 43. The orbiting mass oscillator can be of the type, for example, shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,402,612, and is driven by shaft 45, connected through two flexible couplings 54 to motor 56. The orbiting mass oscillator is seated on a support mechanism 52, which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3 and described further on in the specification in connection with this Figure. Support mechanism 52 serves to relieve diaphragm 12 of the load caused by the combined weight of the water above it and the oscillator 43. In the operation of the device, tanks 13 and 71 are filled with water to the appropriate levels, the conveyors l7 and 72 are started, and pump 76 is started. The orbiting mass oscillator 43 is thenstarted, causing diaphragm 12 to vibrate, and the speed of rotation of the orbiting mass oscillator adjusted to provide resonant elastic vibration of the vibration system including the diaphragm the tank portions attached thereto and the water. Material to be processed, such as raw cotton, is then introduced to the tank wherein the vibratory energy is transmitted from the water to the cotton, to effect the ginning and separation process.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment utilizes an elastomeric resonator of the type, for example, shown in my Patent application Ser. No. 829,488, filed June 2, 1969. There is seen a portion of the bottom of tank 13, with the circular opening surrounded by radial flange 27, which allows the tank to be secured to stand 29 by bolts 32. Intermediate the radial flange 27 and the stand 29 is disposed a separate flange element 31, having an O-ring 33 imbedded therein, serving to prevent leakage of liquid from the tank 13. Flange 31 has a downward extending inward neck portion 35, which surrounds the upper end of the elastomeric resonator element 37.

The bottom end of the elastomeric cylindrical element 37 is affixed to a metal plate 39 by adhesive or the like. The plate 39 in turn is affixed to housing 41 of orbiting mass oscillator 43. The orbiting mass oscillator is seated on a support mechanism 52 consisting of spring 47, the upper end of which surrounds the oscillator housing 41; and a separate housing 51 that serves to contain a downward extending guide rod 53, which is free to move vertically within a bushing element 55. This permits the downward vibratory motion of the oscillator to be absorbed essentially by spring 47. lt is pointed out that the arrangement of the spring to the oscillator is of no great moment to the herein invention in that other suitable arrangements are possible within the scope of the disclosed invention. This is but one means of supporting the oscillator relative to the elastomeric resonator 37, such that substantially no vibratory energy is dissipated to the surrounding environment.

Affixed to the upper end of the resonator 37 and covering it is a metal plate 57 which can be glued or vulcanized to the resonator element. This plate 57 can be of steel, or preferably of non-corrosive material such as stainless steel. As shown in the drawing, the metal element 57 is in the form of a cap and covers a portion of the side walls of the outer diameter of the resonator 37 at portion 59 adjacent the neck portion 35 of the flange. A very small clearance 61 is provided between portion 59 of the element 57 and the flange neck portion 35 to allow the resonator 37 to vibrate freely without dissipating energy into the vessel. A typical clearance 61 could be 0.20 inch.

Extending from the neck portion 35 of flange 31 downwardly is a cylindrical boot 63, of preferably elastomeric material such as rubber. The boot is secured to the outer periphery of the neck portion 35 by a band clamp element 65, and is additionally secured to plate 39 adjacent the oscillator 43 by a similar clamp 67 to provide a water tight seal therebetweem Thus a small chamber 69 is formed between the outer periphery of the resonator 37 and the inner wall of the cylindrical boot element 63, which will be filled with the liquid from the tank 13 that passes through the small gap 61 prior to operation of the oscillator.

In the operation of this embodiment of the device, the orbiting mass oscillator 43 is started and the frequency thereof adjusted so as to cause the resonator 37 to vibrate resonantly. The metal plate 57 on the resonator contiguous with the bottom of the tank 13 causes the end of the resonator to be stiff and thus prevents it from breaking into various d ipoling modes. The remaining portion of the resonator 37 is not confined, so that various forms of vibration can take place therein. Under these conditions the orbiting mass oscillator will seek the best possible vibratory mode for maximum energy input to the tank. The main body of the resonator is effectively isolated from the liquid in the tank 13 by having the close fit between it and the neck portion 35 of the flange 31 at gap 61, and a small area 69 between the resonator 37 and the surrounding cylinder 63. Because of the small gap 61, the liquid layer therein has a very high acoustic impedance at resonant frequency. This high impedance thus blocks pressure impulses set up within the area 69 from being effectively transmitted to the main body of liquid in vessel 13. Thus the effective coupling of the resonator 37 to the body of liquid in vessel 13 is through the metal surface 57 at the end of the resonator.

Under the aforegoing conditions the orbiting mass oscillator 43 will seek the best possible vibratory mode for maximum energy impart to the low impedance liquid media in the vessel 13.

It should be apparent that this invention is not intended to be limited to use in separating seeds from cotton fibers but may be adapted to the separation of any fibers from pellet-like members attached thereto. Further, the process need not be conducted in separate tanks, but may be a continuous process utilizing a conveyor type structure to transport the material into the liquid filled tank. This embodiment of the device would permit the sonic action to be applied in such manner as to cause the fibers to drop through a perforated conveyor mechanism, retaining the seeds so they are carried out of the solution. The fibers can then be removed from the water by a simple screening or drainage process.

The technique of this invention thus provides means for more effectively separating attached plant fibers from seeds. Because the separation is accomplished by sonic rathern than mechanical means, fragmentation of the fibers is eliminated and the fibers are detached from the seeds at their roots, thus providing maximum fiber length. Further, such technique removes all fibrous material from the seeds, thereby increasing the yield and providing the additional benefit of obviating the need for subjecting the seeds to a delinting process before planting. Finally, since the technique is less violent than the prior art methods, seeds are not damaged in the process; thus the fibers are delivered without contamination by cottonseed oil from broken seeds.

lclaim: I

1. A method for the sonic separation of cotton seeds and the like from a fibrous host material such as cotton, comprising the steps of:

immersing the fibrous host material, having seeds or the like therein, to be processed in a liquid contained within a container, the material and liquid forming a vibration system, and

applying high level sonic energy to said liquid at a frequency which engenders elastic compressional cycles therein, thereby causing the vibration system comprising said liquid and the material immersed therein to be vibrated elastically, whereby the seeds are caused to vibrate relative to and separate from the fibrous host material attached thereto.

2. The method of claim 1 and further including the step of generating the sonic energy bymeans of an orbiting mass oscillator.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said oscillator is driven at a frequency such as to cause resonant vibration of said system.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of coupling the output of said oscillator to an elastomeric resonator immersed in said liquid, said viberation system including said resonator.

5. The method of claim 1 and additionally including the step of removing said seeds from the liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the seeds are removed by a conveyor belt which is run through the liquid to a point outside of the liquid.

7. The method of claim 1 and additionally including the step of removing the fibrous host material from the liquid. 7

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fibrous material is removed from the liquid by pumping the liquid from said container to a second container and conveying the material out of the liquid pumped into the second container on a conveyor belt.

9. In a sonic separation system for detaching cotton seeds or the like from a fibrous material such as cotton, the combination of a primary vessel,

a liquid contained in the vessel, the material being immersed in the liquid, said material and liquid for removing the seeds from said vessel comprises a conveyor belt, and roller drive means for driving said conveyor belt through said liquid and to a point outside of said liquid, the seeds being carried on said belt to said point outside of the liquid.

11. The combination of claim 10 including a secondary vessel, a liquid contained in said secondary vessel, a drain pipe disposed near the bottom .of the primary vessel for permitting flow of the liquid to the secondary vessel, a pump installed along said drain pipe to pump the liquid and fibrous material suspended therein to said secondary vessel,a nd means for removing said fibrous material from the liquid in said secondary vessel.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the means for removing the fibrous material from the secondary vessel comprises a conveyor belt and means for driving said conveyor belt throughsaid liquid and to a point outside of the liquid whereby the fibrous material is carried on the conveyor out of the liquid.

i l l 

1. A method for the sonic separation of cotton seeds and the like from a fibrous host material such as cotton, comprising the steps of: immersing the fibrous host material, having seeds or the like therein, to be processed in a liquid contained within a container, the material and liquid forming a vibration system, and applying high level sonic energy to said liquid at a frequency which engenders elastic compressional cycles therein, thereby causing the vibration system comprising said liquid and the material immersed therein to be vibrated elastically, whereby the seeds are caused to vibrate relative to and separate from the fibrous host material attached thereto.
 2. The method of claim 1 and further including the step of generating the sonic energy by means of an orbiting mass oscillator.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said oscillator is driven at a frequency such as to cause resonant vibration of said system.
 4. The method of claim 3 including the step of coupling the output of said oscillator to an elastomeric resonator immersed in said liquid, said viberation system including said resonator.
 5. The method of claim 1 and additionally including the step of removing said seeds from the liquid.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the seeds are removed by a conveyor belt which is run through the liquid to a point outside of the liquid.
 7. The method of claim 1 and additionally including the step of removing the fibrous host material from the liquid.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fibrous material is removed from the liquid by pumping the liquid from said container to a second container and conveying the material out of the liquid pumped into the second container on a conveyor belt.
 9. In a sonic separation system for detaching cotton seeds or the like from a fibrous material such as cotton, the combination of a primary vessel, a liquid contained in the vessel, the material being immersed in the liquid, said material and liquid forming a vibration system, an orbiting mass oscillator coupled to the liquid, means for driving said orbiting mass oscillator at a frequency such as to cause resonant elastic vibration of the vibration system including the liquid and the material immersed therein, means for removing the detached seeds from the liquid, and means for removing the fibrous material from the liquid.
 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the means for removing the seeds from said vessel comprises a conveyor belt, and roller drive means for driving said conveyor belt through said liquid and to a point outside of said liquid, the seeds being carried on said belt to said point outside of the liquid.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including a secondary vessel, a liquid contained in said secondary vessel, a drain pipe disposed near the bottom of the primary vessel for permitting flow of the liquid to the secondary vessel, a pump installed along said drain pipe to pump the liquid and fibrous material suspended therein to said secondary vessel, and means for rEmoving said fibrous material from the liquid in said secondary vessel.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the means for removing the fibrous material from the secondary vessel comprises a conveyor belt and means for driving said conveyor belt through said liquid and to a point outside of the liquid whereby the fibrous material is carried on the conveyor out of the liquid. 